1. ANIMALCULA OF INFUSIOJilS. 121 



and he at laft difcovered, that it was not the co- 

 pulation of two animals, but one animal which 

 multiplied by a divifion into two parts. His ob- 

 fervation was communicated to M. Bonnet, who 

 tranfmitted it to me. 



My Solitude^ 27 January 1770. 



* I have hazarded fome conjectures on infufion 

 ' animalcula, and their mode of multiplication, 

 ' in the firfl volume of my Conftderations fur les 

 ' Corps Organises, chapter 3. ; and it is there 

 ' faid, " Let us prefer conjedures founded on ob- 

 " fervation or experiment. — Let us compare thele 

 " animalcula to polypi, and other infefts, multi- 

 " plying by fedions. — Let us fuppofe they pro- 

 " pagate by natural divifion, fimilar or analogous 

 " to the duller polypus ; or, by breaking or fe- 

 " parating with extreme facility, like the frefh 

 " water anguillae, fpoken of in my Trait^ 

 " d^lnfeBologie, Obfervat. 2 [ . part 2. By fuch 

 *' fuppofitions, we may explain the chief pheno- 

 " mena prefented by animalcula — ^that fmgular 

 " diminution of fize and encreafe of number." 



' 1 do acknowledge, that I had no great hopes 

 ' that thefe conje£tures would one day be veri- 



* fied, nor was I very fanguine in their favour. 

 ' Animalcula are fo minute, that it was not eafy 



* to prefume the myilery of their reproduction 

 ' would be inveiled. But it is now accomplifhed ; 

 ' and we owe it to a naturalift, who, althougk 



' experienced 



